TOM LIPPINCOTT

ODE TO THE POSSIBLE

Independent Label

Tom Lippincott, 8-string guitar/electronics/bandleader; Marty Quinn, bass; Lucas Apostoleris, drums; Camila Meza, vocals; David Fernandez, tenor & soprano saxophones.

As a young teen, Tom Lippincott desired to be a musician.  At age 13, his parents made his dream come true with a guitar gift. The young man began to study, practice and develop his skills. This passion continued to the University of North Texas where he earned a bachelor’s degree in jazz studies and accepted a teaching assistantship at the University of Miami. There, he completed a master’s degree in jazz performance.

As a left-handed performer, limited by tendinitis in his right thumb that challenged Lippincott to change his playing style, he put down his pick and used his fingers.  In 2000, he commissioned a custom 8-string guitar including a high A and low B string. Over the last twenty-five years, Tom Lippincott perfected his original style, his playing pattern, and added effect pedals and a pedalboard that he mastered.  This album reflects the result of his diligence.

Lippincott’s “Ode to the Possible” album features his original compositions performed with his current quartet and embellished by electronics. The first original is titled “Preface/Overture” with David Fernandez leading the melodic way on his saxophone. This is followed by “Bell Tower” that sounds more contemporary and gives Lucas Apostoleris several bars to flash his sticks and show his depth on the trap drums.

Some of Lippincott’s work borders on soft rock music, like his composition “An Inhabitant of Carcosa.”  Lippincott plays a guitar solo that’s both melodic and bluesy. The bass solo of Marty Quinn follows.  It’s full of rhythm and punch.  Another original tune, recorded in a major key, is called “Sisters and Brothers.”  It’s meant to bring peace and comfort to the listener and represents a family unit, that despite past and present differences, reflects unification.

“Stella by Searchlight” is a more aggressive production and has a real rock feel with Lippincott’s guitar sounding quite fusion during this arrangement.  He and Fernandez hold a musical conversation, the guitar and the saxophone speaking to each other in dramatic, musical ways, with lots of overdubbing of the guitar, and Apostoleris crashing his drums to drive the piece forward.

Speaking of the drummer, (Apostoleris) he plays “Interlude 4” for 28-seconds of trap drum excitement and cymbals. Each ‘Interlude’ on this album features a different cast member of Lippincott’s musical characters.

The voice of Camila Meza adds a fresh instrument to “Zakir” an elegy for the East Indian percussionist, Zakir Hussain, who inspired Tom Lippincott. Camila’s voice sings wordlessly along with Lippincott’s guitar, doubling the melody.  This piece is quite beautiful.

All in all, this is an album full of soundscapes that embrace experimentation and tickles the edges of Rock music and fusion jazz.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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